Builders warned of skin cancer

21st July 2011

Builders are being warned to guard against skin cancer while at work.

Researchers at Manchester University found some construction workers are nine times more likely to get the disease than people doing other jobs, primarily because they spend so long outside and are exposed to ultraviolet rays bouncing off surfaces. The study team also found that young builders were less likely to wear a shirt. The Society of Occupational Medicine, which looks at issues around illness at work, wants builders to wear long-sleeved shirts and suncream.